Mad Iguana

I can’t access it from France – what a shame!

ooh, hark at you, the hotshot expert!! 🙂 Well done, Daeds, this is fabulous. Exciting to be a part of, I imagine?

That’s great news Alan! Good luck with that request.

Before I start writing (these days, anyway) I need to know the beginning (obviously) and some idea of the ending, but not necessarily everything that happens in between. Nothing is set in stone, though, and either may change before I’ve finished, depending on what happens along the way.

The two novels I’m prepared to own up to came about in quite…[Read more]

Thanks @raine @janeshuff and @elle.

Good to hear, Elle, that you got something positive from that particular course. I’ve never done a writing course of any description, so I’m keeping an open mind.

Had an out-of-the-blue message from one of CB’s agents today asking for my novel. Now, that is welcome, although it would be truly remarkable if a…[Read more]

Hi @raine — the set up and feedback I mentioned are only for their 6-week online courses. They have 3:

– Start writing your novel
– Write to the end of your novel
– Pitch and edit your novel

The more expensive and extensive 3-month and 6-month online courses are the same as the London-based one. There is more tutor feedback however I can say h…[Read more]

That’s interesting @elle. Is it that level of tutor contact in all the online courses?Sounds like it runs the risk of being a bit hit and miss. I did think the London based courses looked a lot more in depth and directly tutored. And they have a great reputation .. But they are A LOT of money, and yanno, in London. Sigh.

I’ve never started a piece of fiction knowing the ending. I like to start with a scene, put a character into it, and see where it goes. I enjoy the ride.

Hi Alan,

I have done the ‘Write to The End of Your Novel’ It’s good to remind you of the basis for dialogue, suspense, etc. You get video and notes on each subject and then a 500-word writing task that you post on the CB forum. During the 6-week you will get feedback once from the course tutor so all the rest of the feedback will come from…[Read more]

Interesting conversation.

For me it’s start with an idea of a character or a scene. Depending on how well formed the idea is I might start writing straight away or if I don’t I will stick it in my notebook for future use.

I often don’t know the end before I start writing. For example, I worked on a longer flash last month and for a few weeks I…[Read more]

I can’t remember what inspired my first WIP.

My second was inspired by a trip to Benidorm and I thought it would be fun to make a character suffer it too.

The current WIP was inspired by reading something about the Ten Pound Poms and thinking that would add an interesting aspect to a novel. Another couple of ideas have been sparked by stuff I…[Read more]

How intersting Sea. I have a couple of short stories that are often in the back of my mind as having potential to develop into something else. And back story is often the first idea that comes to me and then I have to work out how the situation will play out in the now.

Yes, Raine, I absolutely have to know where the setting is, or I can’t w…[Read more]

The project I want to do next came as a result of one of the monthly comps – the one Daeds set about doorways. I wrote about twelve pages of notes at the time and added to it at odd moments when things occurred to me – obstacles, dialogue, conflict.
One thing I have learned over the past year, is the part backstory can play in giving my…[Read more]

INteresting question. Funnily enough, sometimes the first thing I get is the setting. I’m very into the atmospheric setting & its role in the story, so that’s definitely there before I start any planning or research or even think about characters! The other thing though is a pretty formless idea of some sort of ‘issue’ I want to explore. Not big…[Read more]

Congratulations Alan. Excellent news. As Raine says, do let us know how the course goes!

Wow, well done, Alan. That’s a major bit of validation, and those courses look great. I’ve eyed them a few times, but never bitten, so will be really interested to hear how you get on.

Yes, sorry, meant to congratulate the worthy winner – great, unsettling and dreamlike tale that owns the innate silliness of the tiny guitar and the bizarre phenomenon of the vast ukulele band. Great stuff, and thanks Sea for a challenging and fun competition